Multiple connection



July 13, 1948. M SEAVER MULTIPLE CONNECTION Filed Nov. 3, 1945 Y H l 1 l n 4 'HEJ llll Inventor Patented July 13, 1948 U N ITED STAT ES PAT ENT OFFICE.

MULTIPLE CONNECTION Lee M. Seaver', Koko n'o, Ind Application Ncvemrer 3, 1945', Serial'No. 626,500

Claims. (01.173-334) This invention relates toelectrical connection sockets andaplugs;

It isan object of the present invention to: provide a Wall or similar socket for electrical cord connections which is adapted to normally reside in" a: position substantially flush with the wall with which it is associated; and: which embodies means such as may be manually and: optionally positioned to: protrude from the wall in a manner to provide for the attachment thereto of a pin rality of electricai cord" plugs or similar connector-s;

Another object of? the invention. is: to provide, in: a. device of the character set forth-,= an inrproved sliding means of a projectablei and: retractable type whereby it may be positioned to extend: and project from the: wall and receive a plurality of cord plugs or similar connectors, and which will maintain, while: in: such varying positi'ons, effective contact with the source of supply of electrical energy.

A: further object of. the inventionis to provide a slidabl'e device of'th'ei character setforth which may, in: withdrawn position, receive an electrical cordconnecting'plu'g. member; and which, when in extended position, may receive, in addition, a plu ralityof such plugs or. equivalent appliances.

Other objects and features of the present'im venti'on relate to the combination and interrelation of parts; whereby theiwhole formsa neat, attractive and eifi'ci'ent appliance of the class described, and one which may be receivable with inra wall? when: not in use;

These and other? objects, features and: advantages: 0f: the present invention: wilt be apparent from a consideration of! the following specification taken in connectionwith: the drawings; in which Figure 1 is a face or endelevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

' Figure 2 is a cross se'ctiona'l view taken on: line 2'-"2of Figure'4.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical" sectiontaken on the plane of the irregular central line 3'-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view at right angles to Figure 3 taken onthe line 4"-4' of Figure 3 Referring more particularly" to" the drawings my invention includes an escut'c'heon plate Ill which is adapted to marginally frame andpartially cover an aperture H in a was ['2' to which it may be readily secured, any desired manner. The plat'e I0 is centrally apertured as at M, the aperture being preferablysquare or'oi' other con figuration such as is adapted to' conform with the configuration of the projectable and retract.- a'ble electrical contact unit or means l5,,thestruc'- tural details of which will be hereinafter described.

Mounted within the aperture H; a casing is provided including an outer cylinder or casing l6 adapted to fit into said aperture H; and an inner, rectangular receptacle l'lprov-i'deci-v atits inner closedend IS with electrical connecting terminals IS. The inner-and outer parts or compiemental sections i6 and I"! of the casing are webbed together and attached at their outer ends and; by way of fastenings 20,v to the escutcheon' plate Ill. The opposed fiat walls of receptacle section H are provided with elongated slots 2| through which projecting lugs 22 are adapted to: move in and out, said lugsbeing carried by a sliding current feeder contact-receiving part 23 movable with and guided by the receptacle H. V The part 23-of unit l5 is=inthe form of a tubularshell from which the projecting members 22 extend through. the slotsgt, as hereinbefore described. Within shell 23, a longitudinally ex tending insulated shaft 24 is proyided, and this is secured by a fastening screw 25 to the spider 26 carried by the inner end portion of said shell. Mounted upon shaft 24 adjacent the front end thereof, there is provided a plurality of contact fingers 21 which are illustrated. in the form of substantially U-shaped members, the legs of which are adapted to engage each other under spring. tension,. and. toreceive therebetween inserted: contact prongs carried byregulation cord and appliance plugs, as illustrated at 28.

It: will be understood that the. contact fingers 2.1 are arranged in pairs-F one member of each pair being connected with the opposite electrical polarity through suitable connection with the members [9. Suitable side T-slots 29 areprovided in the receptacle 23' in alignment with the fingers 21., whereby the variable types of prongs carried by th' plugs 28 may be received therethrough and entered between the fingers" 2T. The insulated shaft 2'4: is adapted to terminate in an adapter head 3'fl which is] enlarged and adapted to carry a pair of outstandingffing'ers 21a. The end cap 31' is associated with the shell 23 and is suit-amyapertured, as at 32, for cooperated admittance of contacting pins with the members 21 carried by the head 30'. end cap 31 is preferably recessed,- as" at 33,, to form afinger grip 33a for controlling sliding movement oi-the' entire unit i 5 with respect to the relatively fluted sections l6 and I1.

For completing the electrical circuit, between the connection members or binding posts l9 and the clip members 21, said members l9 are provided with outwardly extending contact arms 34 which embrace opposite sides of the insulator 24 and which are thus adapted to accommodate arms 35, one of which is adapted for electrical connection with one of each of the pairs of contact receiving clip members 21, while the other is adapted for electrical connection with the other one of each pair of said contact receiving clip members 21, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

By referring to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the operation of the device will be readily un derstood. In the inward or retracted position of the structure as shown in Figure 4, the endmost, outstanding contact receiving members 21;: may receive suitable contacting prongs carried by the plug 8 and thus electrical contact will be established through the interconnected conductors and will energize the appliance (not shown) as sociated with the plug 28. When a plurality of plugs are desired for use in connection with the device, the casing 23, unit l5, including is slid outwardly from the receptacle i! by the provision of the recessed portion 33 and finger-grip 33a.

In the opposite position, contact is maintained between the arms 34 and contact fingers 35 by the elongation of the arms 34 over which the fingers 35 slide in wiping contact. The proper alignment of the device after movement is maintained and the relative movement is controlled by the provision of the projecting pins 22 within the slots 2 l Upon outward position of the device, as illustrated by dotted lines of Figure 3, extra cord plugs 28 may be inserted through the apertures 29 of the casing 23 and their conducting prongs may be received by the contact-receiving members 21 associated with said apertures.

Thus, it may be readily seen that my invention provides for the use of a plurality of cord plug accommodating and connecting members in combination with a single wall-type multiple purpose outlet. It will be seen also that when but a single cord-plug is to be accommodated, the means I is then retracted within the Wall and is positioned substantially fiush therewith, while it may be readily projected for attachment thereto of a plurality of cord-plugs.

Novelty is predicated on and centers around the multiple cord plug accommodation adapter or unit which is normally concealed, confined, and therefore housed in the relatively fixed elongated receptacle Il, the latter mounted in the cylindrical outer jacket or casing [6, said unit I5 being susceptible of readily taking the projected position seen in dotted lines in Figure 3. The arrangement is characterized by simplicity, accessibility, and the outstanding features and advantages are easy to "spot and identify. Each complements the other. The structure, as a whole, is destined to earn recognition as a real convenience and time saver.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. A multiple-purpose cord connecting outlet of the class described, comprising a receptacle having means whereby same may be fixedly mounted on a wall, fioor or the like, said receptacle being provided interiorly with longitudinally extending current delivering arms and coacting means for connection with a source of electrical current, a shell telescopically mounted for sliding in said receptacle, said shell being slidably keyed to said receptacle, an adapter shaft mounted longitudinally and centrally in said shell, said shaft being provided with a multiplicity of selectively usable contact clips, said clips being adapted to accommodate prongs on cord plugs and the like, said shaft being provided with longitudinally extending contact fingers, said contact fingers having slidable resilient contact with said arms.

2. A wall and fioor type outlet for supplying current from a source to cord-plugs for use in connection with fioor lamps and the like, comprising a longitudinally elongated receptacle adapted to be fixedly mounted, said receptacle being closed at-its inner end and open at its outer end, opposed side walls of said receptacle being provided with guide and assembling slots, a hollow elongated shell fitted snugly and telescopically within the confines of said receptacle, said shell being projectible and retractible in relation to the open outer end of said receptacle, said shell being provided with lugs and said lugs fitting slidably in said slots, a pair of longitudinally elongated resilient contact arms secured at one end to an adjacent end of said receptacle, a shaft mounted in said shell and provided with a plurality of sets of selectively usable contact accommodation clips, and a pair of current take-oil fingers in electrical connection with said clips, said fingers having sliding contact with said contact arms.

3. As a new article of manufacture, and as a component part of a structure of the class described, an elongated substantially rectangular receptacle, said receptacle being open at its outer end and closed at its inner end, the last named end being provided with elongated resilient contact arms, said arms projecting into the interior .pf the receptacle, means for supplying current to the current intake ends of said arms, opposed walls of said receptacle being provided with guide and assembling slots, a cylindrical casing elongated and commensurate in length with said receptacle and surrounding the receptacle and .joined to the outer open end of the receptacle by an annular connecting web, and an escutcheon plate fastened to said web.

4. As a new article of manufacture, and as a component part of an outlet of the class described, an elongated shell substantially rectangular in cross-sectional form and provided at its outer end with a closin cap having a central depression and a cross-pin forming a finger-grip, said finger-grip being located in said depression, said shell being provided interiorly with an axially extending shaft, said shaft being of insulation material and being provided on one end portion with a multiplicity of selectively usable sets of contact accommodation clips and being further provided with longitudinal resilient contact fingers.

5. A multiple-purpose cord connecting outlet comprising a receptacle adapted to be fixedly mounted on a wall, or the like, said receptacle being provided with current pick-up and deliver- 5 6 ing arms and further provided with means to supply current to said arms from a conventional REFERENCES CITED electric source, a current feeder unit telescopically The following nces are of record in the mounted in said receptacle, an adapter shaft fil Of this p nt mounted longitudinally in said unit, said shaft 5 being provided with a multiplicity of selectively UNITED STATES PATENTS usable contact clips, said clips being adapted to Number Name Date accommodate prongs on cord plugs and the like, 1,442,234 c ay Jan. 16, 1923 said shaft being provided with longitudinally 2,196,842 t a b p 940 extending contact fingers, said contact fingers 10 having slidable resilient contact with said arms.

LEE M. SEAVER. 

